1st Hussars and Holy Roller & Perry Kitson

[David Dunlop]

Hi Bruce.

That markings puzzle raises some interesting points.

Most, if not all, Canadian Regiments that served overseas during WW2, maintained a presence in Canada. Their Canadian based vehicles used a number of markings distinct from what were used by the same Regiment overseas. Given those differences, my thought is the Canadian and overseas parts of any given Regiment would only ever have received vehicle markings data that was relevant to their specific location, and were very likely completely blind to what was happening ‘on the other side’.

Add to that, when members of a Regiment returned home after the war, for most, the demob process took place overseas. When they got back to Canada they went home in the vast majority of cases. So Holy Roller comes back to Canada with perhaps a lot of the overseas markings painted over and there are very few, if any members of the Regiment in Canada that would actually know what markings to should actually have, so they improvised.

As you noted, however, it is nice to see that at least for a while in 1946 back in Canada, Holy Roller was still a complete and working runner. Probably after all the official press coverage, she went back to the armoury and had her power plant pulled and all the other useful kit removed and it has been on a slippery slope ever since.

At least Holy Roller has faired better than the RCAF’s most decorated Lancaster that survived an incredible number of bombing missions and ended up in Vulcan Alberta and in spite of efforts at the time to save it, ended up scrapped.

David